Air conditioning system



\ P 1938. R. c. JEPERTINGER 21,129,427

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Con fro/ Uri/i Sept. 6, 1938. R. c. JEPERTINGERY 2,129,427

AIR CONDITIONING- SYSTEM Filed Aug. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qmum mm [1 JAB/175N777 1;

Patented Sept. 6, 1938 I,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Richard O. Jepertinger, Milwaukee, Wis. as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Modine Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a. cor poration of Wisconsin Application August 26, 1935, Serial No. 37,923 12 Claims. (01. 257-3) This invention relates to air conditioning sys- Referring now more particularly to the accomtems for homes and buildings. panying drawingsin which like numerals indi- It is an object of this invention to provide an cate like parts throughout the several views, the air conditioning system which needs no distributnumeral 5 designates a building having a base- 5 ing ducts and in which the conditioning of the ment 6 and rooms "I to be supplied with condi-- 5 air for each room is effected directly'in or near tioned air. Each room has one or more condithe room as distinguished from past systems in tioning units, indicated generally by the numeral which all of the conditioning was done at a 8. These units may be of the built-in type shown central remote point. in Figures 1, 2 and 3, or of the exposed type 10 Another object of this invention is to provide shown in Figure 4. The built-in construction is m an air conditioning system in which either a cool preferable, and is therefore shown as the preing or a heating mediumis pumped under presferred embodiment of the invention. sure from a central source to a number of re- The built-in conditioning unit comprises an motely located conditioning units to effect both elongated upright stack or air chamber 9 con- 1 a temperature modification and an air circulation cealed in the wall of the room it is to supply, and 15 and to be returned from such units back to the provided with an inlet opening it at its lower source at atmospheric pressure. end and an outlet opening it in its upper end.

Another object of this invention is to provide The unit is so mounted. in the wall 'of the room an air conditioning system in which the temperathat its inlet opening is near the base board and 4 ture modifying medium is utilized to provide inits outlet opening is near the ceiling. Both open- 20 creased humidification when necessary, and in ings are covered by a suitable grill' i2 and the in-' which the pressure of the temperature modifying let' opening also has a filter element l3 preferably medium controls the functioning of the humidifyarranged behind its grill. ing means. Through the inlet opening it, the air is taken A further object of this invention is to provide off the floor of the room and drawn'into the 25 an air conditioning system particularly applicable chamber 9 for recirculation. Fresh air may s for installation in buildings and homes already in be conducted to the chamber 9 through an auxuse. iliary inlet l4 located in the side 01' the air cham- With the above and other objects in view which her 9 adjacent the inlet I0 .and also equipped with will appear as the description proceeds, this ina filter element 15. v v 80 'vention resi es in the novel construction, com- The fresh air inlet I4 may be cfll'lnected bination and arrangement of parts substantially rectly with the outside atmosphere through the as hereinafter described and more particularly side of the building or to some suitable source of defined by the appended claims, it being underfresh air by means of a duct i6.

stood that such changes in the precise embodi- Any suitablemeans may be provided for con- 35 ment of the hereindisclosed invention may be trolling the ratio of the air entering the chammade as come within the scope of the claims. her 9 through its recirculation inlet l0 and its The accompanying drawings illustrate two fresh air inlet I4, and for purposes of illustration,

- complete examples of the physical embodiment a damper I! has been shown in the duct l6 to 40 of the invention constructed according to the effect this function. 40 best modes so far devised for the practical appli- Mounted in the air chamber 9 between the incation of the prlnciplesthereof. and in which: let and outlet openings Ill and I4 is a heat ex- Figure 1 is a cross section through two-rooms changer I8. This heat exchanger extends transv and part of the basement of a building illustratversely'across the stack or air chamber so that all ing one embodiment of this'invention; air flowing from the inlet to the outlet must 45 Figure 2 is a view partly in front elevation and pass through the same. It consists of spaced partly broken away and in section through one headers l9 and 20 connected by a series of tubes of the conditioning units of the system; It on which fins 22 are mounted. An inlet pipe 23 Figure 3 is a side view of the conditioning unit connects with theheader l9 and an outlet or exwith a portion broken away and in section; and haust pipe 24 connects with the header 20. 50

Figure 4 is a view of a modified unit partly in Beneath the heat exchanger is an air circulatside elevation and partly broken away and in secing means in the form of an air blower 25. This tion through a conditioning unit of the exposed blower 25 is mounted within a casing provided by type suitable for buildings and homes already in a sheet metal wall 26 bent to substantially U- use. shape with the upperends thereof extending u across the space between the front and back walls of the stack or air chamber and attached to the headers i9 and 20, and the medial portion 26 thereof shaped to provide a spiral housing for the blower to direct the air flow induced thereby upwardly through the heat exchanger.

As best shown in Figure 3, the lower portion of the wall 26 does not extend across the full depth of the stack or air chamber. One edge thereof is spaced from the adjacent wall of the stack so that air entering the same through the inlet ill or M has unrestricted access to the center of the blower.

The blower is driven by means of a fluid pressure motor 21 suitably mounted in the stack or air chamber and attached to the shaft of the blower. To drive the fluid pressure motor the exhaust from the heat exchanger is utilized and to thisend the exhaust or outlet pipe 24 leading from the heat exchanger is connected by piping 28 to the inlet of the fluid pressure motor.

The outlet of the fluid pressure motor has a pipe 29 connected thereto which leads down into the return line 30 attached to the bottom wall 3| of the stack orair chamber 9. The bottom wall 3| is pitched toward its connection with the return line 30 so as'to drain all condensate accumulating within the. unit down into the return The temperature modifyingmedium circulate ing through the heat exchangers of the different units is preferably water, although any other suitable liquid may be employed.

To this end, the inlets 23 of the heat exchangers of all of the units are connected with a feed line 35. The feed line is connected to the outlet of a force pump 36 through a pressure reducing valve 31. The pump 38, which is driven by an electric 'motor 38, is arranged to recirculate the water in the system or may be supplied with fresh water from the regular fresh water source of the building. The direct supply to the pump is provided by a pipe line 39. g

The pipe line 39 has two valves 43 and 4| connected with it in parallel; Both valves are automatlc and controlled electrically by suitable con trol mechanism 42 and 43, respectively. The valve 40 is the hot water control valve, and the valve 4| is the cold water control valve.

. Through the valves 40 and 4| the pipe line 30 is connected respectively with a hot water boiler 44 and/or a cold water tank 45., The hot water boiler 44 is of any suitable design and the cold ,water supply-tank 45 may be in the form of an ordinary tank provided with a cooling coil 43 suppliedwith refrigerant from a refrigerating unit 41. Both the hot water boiler and the .cold water supply tank have a common inlet pipe 43 which connects with the fresh water supply of the building through a Pipe 43 equipped with a hand control valve 50, and also with the return line It to which all of the return pipes 30 of the several conditioning units connect. Obviously. only one of the two valves 40 and 4i is open at any given time.

- changer.

The controls for the valves 40 and 4| function at the dictation of a central control unit 52 located in one of the rooms of the building. The construction of this control unit forms no part of this invention and is therefore not shown in detail. It is sufllcient to note that this unit embodies a thermostat and a humidistat. The thermostat is connected to the controls 42 and 43 by means of wires 53 and 54, respectively.

The thermostat of the unit 52 is so arranged that for winter heating, the need for an increase in temperature closes a circuit for the control unit 42 which responds to open the valve 40, and in summer the thermostat of the control unit 52 acts whenever the temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum to cause the control 43 to function and open the valve 4|.

Humidification is provided by sprays of water in the individual units. For this purpose, a spray nozzle 55 is mounted in each unit beneath the heat exchanger so that when in operation it directs a spray of water up against the heat exbottom wall of the unit where it is collected to drain down into the pipe 30.

The spray nomle 55 is supplied with water from the feed line 35 through a pipe connection 56 provided with a pressure responsive valve II. The valve 5'! is adjusted so as to open when the pressure on the feed line 35 exceeds that maintained by the pressure reducing valve 31. To illustrate, assuming that the pressure reducing valve 31 is set to open at fifty pounds per square inch, the valve 51 in each of the several units will be adjusted so as to remain closed until the pressure in the feed line 35 reaches at least fiftytwo orfifty-three pounds per square inch. Hence, unless the pressure of the feed line is increased, the valves 51 of all of the units will remain closed and the humidifier sprays 55 will be inoperative.

To increase the pressure. of the feed line 35 and effect humidification, a second pressure reduclng valve 53 and a humidity control valve I! connected in series are connected in shunt with the pressure reducing valve 31. The control valve 53 is normally closed and is controlled by mechanism 60 electrically responsive and controlled by The condensate flows down onto the the humidistat located within the control unit inch, will open, the pump 38 maintaining a pres-- sure sufllcie'ntly high to insure the opening of the valve II. The pressure on the feed line 35 is thus stepped up from fifty to fifty-five pounds per square inch, and sea consequence, all of the valves 51 controlling the supply of water to the humidifier sprays automatically open.-

Upon increase in humidity as a result of the operation of the humidifier sprays, the control unit causes the mechanism 30 to function to close the valve 33 thus bringing the pressure on the feed line 3| back to fifty pounds, which pressure is insumcient tov maintain the valves ll open. The sprays I! are thus shut off. I

It is to be observed that a ma ually controlled valve I is connected with the inlet pipe 23 of each conditioning unit so that the flow of the 76 temperature modifying medium through the heat exchanger and also the ,speed of the blower in each individual unit may be separately controlled. I The exposed type of conditioning unit illustrated in Figure 4, which is particularly suitable for installations in homes and buildings already in use, comprises an upright casing or compartment 10 of neat external appearance provided with a recirculation air inlet 1| at its extreme bottom so as to take air directly off of the floor, and a fresh air inlet 12 connectible with a source of fresh air. A sliding valve structure I3 is provided to simultaneously control the degree of opening of both air inlets. This valve mechanism is so arranged that when one air inlet is open the other is closed, and vice versa.

Above the air inlets and extending across the entire horizontal crosssection of the casing or compartment I is an air filter element 14 through which the air entering either or both inlets must pass to reach the blower 15. The blower I is mounted within a blower casing 11 open at both sides to permit the fiow of air into the center of the blower and having itsoutlet I8 arranged to dischage' the air up through a grilled outlet 19 at the top of the unit.

The grill 80 for the outlet has inclined vanes, as shown, and is hingedly mounted to permit the same to be swung upwardly to provide different angles of deflection for the .air discharged from the unit.

The blower I5 is actuated by a fluid pressure motor 8|, which like the motor 21, is driven from the exhaust of the heat exchanger 82 mounted in the outlet 78 of the blower casing, the exhaust of the heat exchanger being connected with the motor 81 by piping 83.

The intake of the heat exchanger has a feed line 84' connected thereto and the exhaust from the motor BI and also a drip chamber 85 are connected with a return line 86. Aspray nozzle 81 is also provided which is connected to the feed line 84 through a pressure control valve 88.

For purposes of clarity, the various pipe connections of the unit have been shown located entirely outside the unit, but as will be readily apparent, these may be so, disposed as to be entirely within the casing or compartment with the feed and return lines 84 and 88 entering the same through the bottom. i

.From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, that this invention provides a ductless air conditioning system and that by reason of the fact that no ducts are necessary a materially simplified design and construction having many advantages over past and existing air conditioning systems is obtained.

WhatI claim as my invention is:

1. In an air conditioning system, a heat exchanger, a blower to induce a flow of air past the heat exchanger, a fluid pressure motor to drive the blower, a humidifier spray, piping for conductinga liquid temperature modifying medium under pressure to the heat exchanger, the fluid pressure motor and the humidifier spray, whereby a common medium renders the heat exchanger effective and provides motive power for the fluid pressure motor and supplies liquid for the humidifier spray, and an automatic valve in the piping to control the functioning of the humidifier spray without affecting the supply of the liquid temperature modifying medium to the heat exchanger and the fluid pressure motor. I

2. In an air conditioning system, a heat exchanger, a blower to induce a flow of alr'past theheat exchanger, a fluid pressure motor to drive the blower, a humidifier spray, piping for conjunits arranged to discharge conditioned air directly into different rooms to be supplied, each conditioning unit including a heat exchanger and a humidifier spray, a common feed line leading from a remote central point to the heat exchangers and the humidifier sprays of all of the.

units to conduct a liquid temperature modifying medium under pressure thereto, pressure responsive valves interposed between the humidifier sprays and the feed line adapted to open and connect the humidifier sprays with the feed line when the pressure on the feed line reaches a predetermined value, and means controlled by a humidistat withinone of the rooms to be supplied for controlling the pressure on the feed line.

4. In an air conditioning system for supplying tempered and conditioned air to a room, means for inducing a flow of air into said room, a heat exchanger arranged to give the air fiowing into the room a predetermined temperature, a humidifier spray for increasing the relative humidity of the air flowing into the room, a common feed line to supply a liquid temperature modifying medium under pressure to the heat exchanger and the humidifier spray, a pressure responsive valve controlling the connection of the humidifier spray with the feed line and arranged to open when the pressure on the feed line reaches a predetermined value, means for normally maintainmeans operable to effect an increase inpressure on the feed line.

5. In an air conditioning system for supplying conditioned air to the living quarters of a home, the combination of a conditioning unit located in juxtaposition to one of the living quarters of the home and arranged to discharge conditioned air into said living quarters, said unit including a heat exchanger, a humidifier and fluid pressure operated means for, circulating air, a source of liquid temperature modifying medium located in a non-living quarter section of the home, a force pump having its inlet connected with said source, piping leading from the outlet of the pump to said unit for simultaneously supplying the liquid temperature modifying medium to the heat exchanger, the humidifier and the fluid pressure operated air circulating means for giving effect ing the supply of the liquid temperature modifying medium to the heat exchanger and the fluid pressure operated air circulating means.

ing a predetermined pressure on the feed line, and

from the heat-exchanger, a'fluid pressure 6. In an air conditioning system, the combination of a heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet, a blower for inducing a flow 01' air through the heat exchanger, 9. fluid pressure motor for driving the blower, means for conducting a tem- 3 drain for draining oil the fluid temperature modifying means exhausted from. the fluid pressure motor and for draining ofi condensate which drips from the exterior oilthe heat exchanger.

7. In an air conditioning system, the combination of a heat exchanger having an inlet and. an

outlet, a chamber located beneath the heat exchanger" for. collecting condensate which drips D ated means mounted inside said chamber fffr-inducing a flow of air through the heat exchanger, means for feeding a fluid temperature modifying mediumunderpressure to the inlet of the heat 4 exchanger, means for conducting the fluid temperature modifying -medium from the outlet of the heat exchanger to said fluid pressure operated means so that the fluid pressure operated means is driven by the exhaust from the heat exchanger,

fcondensate from said .chamber.

8. In an air conditioning system, the combination of a heatexchangerahaving an inlet and an outlet, a blower for inducing a flow of 'air through the heat exchanger, a fluid-pressure motor for driving the blower, means for injecting moisture into the air stream induced by the blower to provide humidiflcation, means for feeding a fluid temperature modifying medium to'the inlet of the heat exchanger, means for conducting the fluid temperature modifying medium from the "outlet of the heat exchanger. to said fluid pressure motor so that the motor is driven from the exhaust of the heat exchanger,;the spent fluid temperature modifying medium from the motor discharging into the atmosphere, and a drain for. said spent/ fluid temperature modifying medium having means for collecting and draining oi! the excess moisture injected into the, air stream.

9. In an air conditioning system, the combination of a heat exchanger having an inlet and an the blower, means for feeding water of a predetermined temperature under pressure to the inlet of the heat exchanger, means for conducting the water from the outlet of the heat exchanger to the fluid pressure motor so that the motor isdriven-from the exhaust of the heat exchanger, the exhaust from the fluid pressure motor discharging into the atmosphere, and drain means for collecting and draining off the humidiflcation water'whlch is not absorbed by the air stream and the exhaust from the blower motor.

10. An air conditioning unit comprising, a heat exchanger having an inlet and outlet for the admissionand discharge of water under pressure, a blower for inducing a flow of air through the unit, a water turbine for driving the blower, means for conducting water from the outlet of the heat exchanger to the inlet of the turbine so that the turbine is driven from the exhaust of the heat exchanger,- means for injecting water for humidiflcation into the' air stream induced by the blower,

the excess of which drips down to the bottom of the unit, and means at the bottom of the unit for collecting and draining of! all excess and spent water used in the operation of the unit.

11. In an air conditioning system for dwellings, the combination of a conditioning unit located in juxtaposition to one of the living quarters of the dwelling and arranged to discharge conditioned air into said living quarters, said unit including a heat exchanger, a humidifier and fluid pressure operated means for circulating air, a

source of liquid temperature modifying medium located in a non-living quarter section of the dwelling, a force pump having its inlet connected with said source, piping leading from'the outlet of the pump to said unit for supplying the liquid temperature modifying medium under pressure to the heat exchanger, the humidifler, and fluid pressure operated air circulating means for giving effect to all of said elements, and a common drain for returning all of the spent liquid temperature modifying medium at atmospheric pressure and any condensate which forms in the unit back to said source.

12. In an air conditioning system, a conditioning unit including a heat exchanger adapted to have a liquid temperature modifying medium circulated therethrough, a turbine motor, an air impeller driven thereby and'arrange'd to move air through the heat exchanger, the discharge of the turbine motor being to the atmosphere, a sourceof liquid temperature modifying medium under pressure, means for conducting the liquid temperature modifying medium under-pressure to' the inlet of the heat exchanger, means-for conducting the liquid temperature modifying medium a from the outlet of the heat exchanger to the inlet RICHARD c. mun-Iguana. V 

